Best historical season to replay?

RubeBaker · 03-18-2017, 07:43 AM

I usually play the current season with OOTP, but I'm thinking about doing historical play with OOTP18. Which seasons would you say are the best to replay? I've got two in mine: 1981 & 1994. Both were strike years & I think both are great "what if" scenarios.

I've always wanted to manage/GM the Phillies in 1981 & play out what might have happened had Dallas Green not left for the Cubs & they held on to guys like Julio Franco, Ryne Sandberg, etc.

I'd also like to manage/GM the Expos in 1994 & see if they would have won it all that year. Then play them through the 2004 season & eventually get a new stadium built.

Lucas718 · 03-18-2017, 07:50 AM

For me, I would replay 1979 and see if my Orioles could try not blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Pirates again. All these years later I'm still mad about it.

cheo25 · 03-18-2017, 08:26 AM

I like 1975-76 because of peak Big Red Machine, 1979 because of the Pirates, 1980 and '86 because of Astros winning divisions. The '86 season is also good because of the dominance of the Mets.

curtreply · 03-18-2017, 10:20 AM

1964 - pennant races in both leagues, particularly the Phillies collapse at the end.

Xogo · 03-18-2017, 10:44 AM

1982 is a great season because there is no dominant teams. In 1982 every division race was decided in the last weekend of the season. There are at least 3 solid teams in every division. I like it for replays because you actually have to manage your way through all 162 games to make the playoffs. There are no gimmies. I always replay 1982 and use real-life lineups. But I do allow myself to modify the batting order.

KJDelaney · 03-18-2017, 10:46 AM

2003.

I am a life long Red Sox fan. I see if I can overcome the Yankees and start my dynasty a year earlier.

Reed · 03-18-2017, 11:00 AM

I'll agree with 1964. Yanks won by 1 game over the White Sox and 2 over the Orioles. Cardinals won by 1 game over Cincy and the Phillies.
According to the Pyth formula, the Yankees and Cardinals should have finished second in their leagues.

Caporegime · 03-18-2017, 11:07 AM

I always enjoy 1958.

1958: The winds of change were blowing through baseball for the first time in decades. Baseball was still our most popular sport, but there was a sense that the grand old game was getting a bit stodgy. Many teams played in charming but increasingly dilapidated old ballparks. Overall league attendance continued to decline since the heady days of the immediate post-war years. The Dodgers and Giants were now on the left coast. The (original) Senators would be moving to Minnesota in a couple of years. The Browns (now the Orioles), A's & Braves had already relocated to new cities a few years before.

It's a great year to take over as commissioner. The possibilities in any "what if" scenarios are manifold. I just love mixing historical & fictional elements going forward from 1958. These are among the most entertaining and engrossing games I've ever enjoyed in my 15 years playing OOTP.

DaBears · 03-18-2017, 11:14 AM

It's funny because when I saw the title of this page, my immediate thought was 1964. Great season. Also like 1968, 1976, and 1982. Personally, while today's real life MLB is interesting with the 10 team playoff, I prefer OOTP with the four divisions, two in each league.

DawnBTVS · 03-18-2017, 11:37 AM

Can't go wrong with many seasons IMO...

1952/1953: Ted Williams gets injured both years. If healthy, does he end up surpassing 550 HRs? Can he come close to hitting .400 again?

Mickey Mantle explodes onto the scene for the Yankees. Phil Rizzuto is a couple years removed from being MVP. Jackie Robinson also won MVP in 1949 and is starting the decline phase of his career.

Does Bob Lemon continue winning 20+ games? He was coming off a 17-14 year in 1951. Can Warren Spahn emulate real life and be dominant well into his late 30s/early 40s?

You also have Roger Maris, Sandy Koufax, and Bob Gibson ready to enter the league in a few year's time.

Padreman · 03-18-2017, 12:32 PM

1994 strike year

BusterKing · 03-18-2017, 12:52 PM

1927, Managing the Yankees "Murderers' Row".

crawdad5000 · 03-18-2017, 08:10 PM

1969 Miracle Mets. On paper they should never had been there. See if you can repeat the miracle as their GM/Manager.

rjl518 · 03-18-2017, 08:11 PM

1986
Baseball like it oughta be!
GO METS!!!

Jamee999 · 03-18-2017, 09:10 PM

I like 1994, as others have said. A good 'what if' year + it's fun to start with the Mariners then and go forward. I also like to do alternate realignment/expansion scenarios starting in the early 50s. Moving teams other than the Dodgers/Giants/Braves west.

03-18-2017, 07:43 AM	#1
RubeBaker All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: USA Posts: 641	Best historical season to replay? I usually play the current season with OOTP, but I'm thinking about doing historical play with OOTP18. Which seasons would you say are the best to replay? I've got two in mine: 1981 & 1994. Both were strike years & I think both are great "what if" scenarios. I've always wanted to manage/GM the Phillies in 1981 & play out what might have happened had Dallas Green not left for the Cubs & they held on to guys like Julio Franco, Ryne Sandberg, etc. I'd also like to manage/GM the Expos in 1994 & see if they would have won it all that year. Then play them through the 2004 season & eventually get a new stadium built.

03-18-2017, 11:07 AM	#8
Caporegime All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Borough of Kings Posts: 1,713	I always enjoy 1958. 1958: The winds of change were blowing through baseball for the first time in decades. Baseball was still our most popular sport, but there was a sense that the grand old game was getting a bit stodgy. Many teams played in charming but increasingly dilapidated old ballparks. Overall league attendance continued to decline since the heady days of the immediate post-war years. The Dodgers and Giants were now on the left coast. The (original) Senators would be moving to Minnesota in a couple of years. The Browns (now the Orioles), A's & Braves had already relocated to new cities a few years before. It's a great year to take over as commissioner. The possibilities in any "what if" scenarios are manifold. I just love mixing historical & fictional elements going forward from 1958. These are among the most entertaining and engrossing games I've ever enjoyed in my 15 years playing OOTP. __________________ "If you don't know where you are going, you'll wind up someplace else." - Lawrence Peter Berra Last edited by Caporegime; 03-18-2017 at 11:11 AM.

03-18-2017, 12:32 PM	#11
Padreman Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico (formally San Diego, CA.) Posts: 4,131	1994 strike year __________________ Chargers= Despicable Traitors

03-18-2017, 08:11 PM	#14
rjl518 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Born in Shea Stadium, lives in LoanDepot Park. Posts: 6,238	1986 Baseball like it oughta be! GO METS!!! __________________ My Threads: MLB Project 32 by SFGiants58 "Colon looking for his 1st hit of the year and he DRIVES ONE! Deep left field! Back goes Upton! Back near the wall! ITS OUTTA HERE!!! Bartolo has done it!!! THE IMPOSSIBLE HAS HAPPENED!!! This is one of the great moments in the history of baseball! Bartolo Colon has gone deep!" ---Gary Cohen. (May 7, 2016) (Petco Park) NYM 6 @ SD 3

03-18-2017, 07:50 AM	#2
Lucas718 Major Leagues Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 402	For me, I would replay 1979 and see if my Orioles could try not blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Pirates again. All these years later I'm still mad about it.

03-18-2017, 08:26 AM	#3
cheo25 All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,340	I like 1975-76 because of peak Big Red Machine, 1979 because of the Pirates, 1980 and '86 because of Astros winning divisions. The '86 season is also good because of the dominance of the Mets.

03-18-2017, 10:20 AM	#4
curtreply Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 5	1964 - pennant races in both leagues, particularly the Phillies collapse at the end.

03-18-2017, 10:44 AM	#5
Xogo Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 216	1982 is a great season because there is no dominant teams. In 1982 every division race was decided in the last weekend of the season. There are at least 3 solid teams in every division. I like it for replays because you actually have to manage your way through all 162 games to make the playoffs. There are no gimmies. I always replay 1982 and use real-life lineups. But I do allow myself to modify the batting order.

03-18-2017, 10:46 AM	#6
KJDelaney All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 588	2003. I am a life long Red Sox fan. I see if I can overcome the Yankees and start my dynasty a year earlier.

03-18-2017, 11:00 AM	#7
Reed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 2,689	I'll agree with 1964. Yanks won by 1 game over the White Sox and 2 over the Orioles. Cardinals won by 1 game over Cincy and the Phillies. According to the Pyth formula, the Yankees and Cardinals should have finished second in their leagues.

03-18-2017, 11:14 AM	#9
DaBears All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 528	It's funny because when I saw the title of this page, my immediate thought was 1964. Great season. Also like 1968, 1976, and 1982. Personally, while today's real life MLB is interesting with the 10 team playoff, I prefer OOTP with the four divisions, two in each league.

03-18-2017, 11:37 AM	#10
DawnBTVS Major Leagues Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: USA Posts: 416	Can't go wrong with many seasons IMO... 1952/1953: Ted Williams gets injured both years. If healthy, does he end up surpassing 550 HRs? Can he come close to hitting .400 again? Mickey Mantle explodes onto the scene for the Yankees. Phil Rizzuto is a couple years removed from being MVP. Jackie Robinson also won MVP in 1949 and is starting the decline phase of his career. Does Bob Lemon continue winning 20+ games? He was coming off a 17-14 year in 1951. Can Warren Spahn emulate real life and be dominant well into his late 30s/early 40s? You also have Roger Maris, Sandy Koufax, and Bob Gibson ready to enter the league in a few year's time.

03-18-2017, 12:52 PM	#12
BusterKing Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,434	1927, Managing the Yankees "Murderers' Row".

03-18-2017, 08:10 PM	#13
crawdad5000 Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dayton, OH Reds country! Posts: 382	1969 Miracle Mets. On paper they should never had been there. See if you can repeat the miracle as their GM/Manager.

03-18-2017, 09:10 PM	#15
Jamee999 All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 772	I like 1994, as others have said. A good 'what if' year + it's fun to start with the Mariners then and go forward. I also like to do alternate realignment/expansion scenarios starting in the early 50s. Moving teams other than the Dodgers/Giants/Braves west.